Horticulture Hotline 05/26/2026
I still hear that we are 6.5 to 8 inches in deficit for rain
in the Lowcountry, depending on where you are located. Not good! Extreme Drought
conditions! I’m seeing some trees that are weakened and being attacked by
secondary invaders. Most plants and turfgrass like moist soil (not soaking wet)
6 inches deep. Roots do not grow in dusty dry soil and I think everyone likes
deep roots for many reasons. I know we sell moisture meters (less than 10$) so
you can check the moisture in your soil, rain gauges, wetting agents, biostimulants
that encourage root growth, mulches, and Cotton Burr Compost that help manage
water; however, you still need water!
This week I am going to try to cover the dreaded cockroach.
The cockroach always wins the most called about / asked about insect award, and
is second to the mole in the overall called about / asked about pest. The
person asking about roaches is never the person with the issue. They are always
asking for their brother, mother, cousin, friend, …
There are many different species of roaches (at least 69).
I’m going to concentrate on the most common roaches that dwell in the
Lowcountry. To most people the roach is like a snake – the only good one is a
dead one. Roaches can cause disease (walk around in a trash can or dumpster and
then on your food – nasty! Asthma trigger).
For controlling roaches, you want to think like a roach,
monitor the situation, employ non-chemical strategies, and use control products
(organic, Green, conventional) if needed.
The German cockroach is the small roach that likes kitchens
and bathrooms. These roaches like to live inside and can be introduced to your
house from boxes or containers that are carried into your house. Boxes are like
a hotel for roaches, and more and more boxes are coming to our homes. German
roaches multiply very quickly once inside.
The American cockroach AKA “water bug”, “Palmetto bug”, and
“
Brownbanded cockroaches are also common to this area. These
roaches like to live up high in cabinets, high shelves in closets, pantries,
desks, bookshelves or other areas away from the kitchen. The Brownbanded
cockroach can live in drier areas than the German roach and usually will
inhabit these areas, so it does not have to compete with the German roach. The
American and German cockroach will out compete the Brownbanded cockroach.
There are other species of cockroaches in this area, and if
you control the above three species, you will most likely control the others as
well. Asian cockroaches in mulched beds are becoming more of an issue. First,
you will want to monitor and identify which species is bothering you. There are
glue boards you can put out in areas you have seen them. You can look for fecal
pellets and egg casings – “Honey, what are you doing?” – “I’m looking for roach
fecal pellets and egg casings” - “No football on today?” …. We also sell these aerosol “flushing agents”
that you can spray in areas that you suspect activity, and the roaches will
quickly come running out of hiding, giving you the opportunity to personally
smack them.
If you have roaches, sanitation is important. Keeping dirty
dishes, garbage and sources of water to a minimum will help limit the
population of roaches. Even clutter in a house provides harborage sights for
the roach. Caulking cracks, weatherproofing windows and doors, sealing pipes
and eliminating other entry points will also help with roaches as well as other
pests.
For control products the bait inside the house do a very
good job. These baits exploit all the bad habits of roaches. Baby roaches eat
the fecal pellets of adult roaches to develop into adult roaches themselves.
Roaches also cannibalize their dead. So, if one roach eats the bait, poops,
then dies. Another roach will eat this poop and eventually die. Another roach
will see the dead roach and eat it and die as well. This transfer of active
ingredient creates a great “domino effect” that has impressed many people. The
specific nature of this application and the low amount of active ingredient
used makes this control method a “green” application, depending on the product
you use.
Using the growth regulators, either Gentrol or Nylar, will
also help break up the roach’s life cycle. These growth regulators will extend the
period of control.
Outside you will want to do a perimeter treatment. There are
several products on the market that will nail these roaches (along with many
other pests). Bifen, Viper, Cyonara Lawn and Garden, Intice Perimeter 10
(“green”) and EcoPCO WP X (“green”) are a small sample of many products that
are available. Generally, treating the perimeter involves spraying or spreading
3 to 10 feet out from your house in the mulched areas. If you are spraying, apply
plenty of water with the product to carry it down where the pests are hiding.
Also spray about 3 feet up the side of your house, around windows, porches,
garages, eaves, garbage areas and other areas where pests may be found. Read
and follow label directions for the specifics of doing a perimeter treatment
for the product you choose to use.
If searching for roach fecal pellets with a flashlight does
not sound like fun to you, remember there are a bunch of Pest Management
Professionals in the area that would love to do this inspection for you.
Bill Lamson-Scribner
can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply
(follow us on Facebook). Possum’s has three locations
